Fuentes reported as being charged with doping-related offences

Although his lawyer is claiming he is innocent, Eufemiano Fuentes is reportedly one of six people who were charged with doping-related offences in Spain today.

The controversial doctor was one of 14 people taken into custody on Thursday. Just under half of those have now been charged with public health offences and trafficking in illegal substances, and released without bail.

Those in question were named by various sources as being Cesar Perez, the coach of the former world 3,000m steeplechase champion Marta Dominguez, the athlete Alberto Garcia, former mountainbike pro Alberto Leon, fitness trainer Manuel Pascua Piqueras and former athlete Jose Alonso Valero. Fuentes was also listed as someone who was charged, but his lawyer continues to insist he did nothing wrong.

The latter represented him in court in Madrid and told reporters there that, “he is outside all that.” He insisted that he was only practising medicine in Las Palmas.

Fuentes and Leon were previously implicated in the 2005 Operación Puerto case, and are still facing charges relating to that.

Spanish police involved in the latest case, codenamed Operación Galgo (Operation Greyhound), revealed on Friday that they had been monitoring Fuentes, his sister Yolanda and León since last April.

A total of 15 premises were raided on Thursday, and 14 people were arrested. A large number of banned substances were seized, including EPO, anabolic steroids, blood bags, and the equipment needed to carry out transfusions. There was also ‘abundant’ documentation relating to doping practices.

It was also reported that the Ethopian-born athlete Alemayehu Bezabeh was caught receiving a blood transfusion during the raids. He was trained by Manuel Pascua. Spanish police apparently also have video images of athletes participating in doping practices.

The Guardia Civil has confirmed that the trio of Eufemiano Fuentes, Yolanda Fuentes and León received a calendar of targeted events from the coaches of various sportspeople, then formulated a doping programme involving those banned substances.

Today’s six names aside, it has not been revealed how many of the remaining individuals will be charged. Dominguez, who is pregnant, was not questioned on Sunday but is expected to face a judge in Palencia, in northern Spain, where she lives. Police confiscated items from her home including, it is reported, EPO.

Thus far, there is little official connection to cycling, aside from the fact that Pascua’s brother José Luis was also briefly taken into custody on Thursday. He was later released without charge. He has coached many big-name Spanish riders in the past, including Pedro Delgado.

VeloNation has heard that at least one international rider is suspected of being involved, but nothing has yet been confirmed. For now at least, the investigation chiefly affects the world of athletics.

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Identities of those taken into custody on Thursday (some names not yet identified)